Under The Savage Sky by Barrence Whitfield and the Savages (Bloodshot Records) is about to be unleashed on the world.

Too much muscle for soul.

Too many power chords for rhythm ‘n’ blues

Too much feeling for garage rock

Whatever…it sounds original, energetic and commanding (and it has that interesting Hitchcockian cover).

The Savages’ guitarist Peter Greenberg explained that the band was eager for something “harder and garagier” than their previous record Dig Thy Savage Soul. Well, mission accomplished on that score!

Frontman Barrence Whitfield hits the boards hard. His vocals are raw, wild and passionate. The guitars on the new album are thick and punk-influenced and the tracks on Under The Savage Sky are short and strong, breathing new life into such songs as Timmy Willis’s “I’m a Full Grown Man”, Kid Thomas’s “The Wolf Pack”, Eddie Snow’s “I’m a Good Man” and Mercy Baby’s “Rock and Roll Baby”.

Taken from the album’s liner notes (written by John Swenson):

“Backing Whitfield are the best cornermen in the business, led by garage/punk guitarist Peter Greenberg, the visionary who started the Savages after a legendary stint with the Lyres, and his sidekick Phil “Mr. Tenacious” Lenker on bass. Greenberg works his guitar with the ruthless intricacy of a chain saw ice sculptor. Lenker meshes with drummer Andy Jody for an unrelenting sequence of haymaker beats. Tom Quartulli’s saxophone rips like a foghorn through the mist.”